The Provincial Party Committee staff cafeteria.
In a private dining room, Organization Department Head Qu Zhaochuan watched Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Guan Ruibo wolf down his food, an odd look in his eyes.
"The braised beef offal is really good today. Why aren't you eating?" Secretary Guan asked in puzzlement as he mixed beef offal soup into his rice.
"Come on, Guan. Are you playing dumb with me? Do you think I came here just to watch you put away three bowls of rice in one sitting?" Qu asked with some displeasure.
They had all been comrades on the same side, yet this apparently upstanding fellow had quietly betrayed the team. Secretary Hou was furious now, and the consequences... well, there hadn't been any consequences yet.
After all, Guan Ruibo was a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, and a veteran sent down to the province by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. Even Secretary Hou had to show him some respect.
"Secretary Hou wanted you to ask what I was thinking, didn't he?" Sweat had beaded on Guan Ruibo's forehead as he ate. He wiped his face with a napkin and smiled.
"So what exactly were you thinking?" Qu Zhaochuan couldn't help asking outright.
The two had attended the same class at the Party School, were close in age, and had a reasonably good personal relationship. Secretary Hou couldn't conveniently question Guan Ruibo himself, so he had sent Qu to sound him out.
"First, someone entrusted me with a request, and I honored it!"
Guan Ruibo finished his rice in a few mouthfuls and took two more sips of soup before setting down his bowl and chopsticks. He looked at Qu Zhaochuan with a serious expression.
Someone entrusted him with a request, and he honored it!
Qu